At the request of the City of Lake Oswego, the project to further study a full-length streetcar connection between Lake Oswego and Portland was suspended in 2012.

The project partners remain committed to ensure future planning efforts and projects do not preclude the future development of a transit investment that would make best use of public facilities, including the Willamette Shore Line right of way, to meet travel demand between the two cities. Further discussion will continue to explore the feasibility, project development needs and financial resources for a streetcar project to the minimum operable segment from South Waterfront to the Sellwood Bridge as a partial, interim solution to the travel needs of the corridor.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement

On Dec. 3, 2010, the Federal Transit Administration, Metro and TriMet issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement, studying the potential benefits and impacts of three alternatives in the corridor. The environmental analysis examines the full range of direct, indirect and cumulative effects of the alternatives.

The committee, made up of elected and appointed officials from each of the project jurisdictions, based its recommendation on recommendations from the community advisory committee who also supports the streetcar alternative, the project management group who advocates streetcar as best meeting the project purpose and need, and the nearly 500 public comments received by the project between Dec. 3, 2010 and Jan. 31, 2011.

The steering committee Locally Preferred Alternative recommendation was forwarded to project partner jurisdictions for review and action in spring 2011. Portland Streetcar Inc. and the cities of Lake Oswego and Portland voted to approve the steering committee recommendation.

The cities' approvals raised issues for further analysis, which the mayors asked be resolved before the counties, TriMet, regional advisory committees and the Metro Council take action. In response, additional analysis was conducted and a report issue to project partners in January 2012.

The Willamette Shore Line began railroad service in 1887, running passenger service until 1929 when it converted to exclusively freight service. The right of way for the Willamette Shore Line was purchased from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1988 by a consortium of local jurisdictions and agencies including Metro, the cities of Lake Oswego and Portland, Clackamas and Multnomah counties, the Oregon Department of Transportation and TriMet. TriMet holds the title to the right of way on behalf of the consortium.

Members of the Willamette Shore Line Consortium remain committed to retaining the Willamette Shore Line as a public resource for future transit use.

Consortium members

Elissa Gertler, Metro

Sean Batty, TriMet

Alan Snook, Oregon Department of Transportation

Brant Williams, City of Lake Oswego

Jean Senechal-Biggs, City of Portland Bureau of Transportation

Since 1990, the City of Lake Oswego has leased the right of way from Portland for the purpose of operating a trolley service on the line. For information about the historic trolley service, call the Oregon Electric Railway Historical Society at 503-697-7436 or visit the Willamette Shore Trolley.

The environmental analysis phase of the project follows the definition and screening of a broad range of options. Along the way, there were numerous opportunities for public participation: a community design workshop, small group meetings, project citizen advisory committee meetings, open houses, public hearings, a formal public comment period and presentations to neighborhood and community groups.

Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project refinement study

Beginning in January 2009, the refinement study developed and evaluated potential streetcar design option options through Johns Landing. In addition, the refinement study also examined the possibility of narrowing of the streetcar terminus options in Lake Oswego.

Lake Oswego to Portland transit public scoping meeting

As a preview of the environmental analysis process for the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project, a scoping meeting was held April 21, 2008 to provide information on the proposed transit project and the timeline for the environmental study and to invite public participation in the process, including comments on the proposed options to be analyzed.

Open houses

During June 2007 open houses, 215 community members provided input on which transit and trail alternatives they prefer to advance for further study in an Environmental Impact Statement process. About 120 participants completed feedback forms to indicate their preferences among the alternatives studied.

Community design workshop

At the May 30, 2006 workshop, 150 community members provided input on what transit options should be considered on Highway 43 and the Willamette Shoreline right of way and where a pedestrian and bike trail could be built between Lake Oswego and Portland. About 100 participants completed a written comment form describing their ideas and preferences for transit and trail in the corridor as well as issues that need further consideration.

Alternatives analysis background report

The report allowed the study to build on previous work rather than “re-inventing the wheel.” It pinpointed issues that had been put to rest and those that need further review. The report provided policy context and assisted in identifying documented opportunities and constraints within the project study area.

On Feb. 23, 2011, Metro released the public comment report for the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement public comment period. The 60-day comment period ran from Dec. 3, 2010, through Jan.31, 2011.

Public comments strongly support investment in the corridor and more comments favored streetcar than enhanced bus or no-build, but a number of people still oppose streetcar, primarily due to its significant capital cost in times when there are many funding needs.

Residents offered nearly 500 comments to help decision-makers weigh the benefits and trade-offs of the alternatives and improve further planning work if either the streetcar or enhanced bus moves forward to the next phase of the project. The report is available below as a single download and as component parts. An addendum consisting of attachments submitted as part of testimony at the public hearing is published separately.

July 13, 2010

Sept. 23, 2009

July 8, 2009

June 1, 2009

May 7, 2009

The Lake Oswego to Portland Transit Project Community Advisory Committee provided "on the ground" input and guidance to project staff and steering committee. The committee included seven representatives from the Portland South Waterfront and Johns Landing area, Lake Oswego and West Linn.

Meeting agendas, packets and summaries

Meeting materials are provided as PDF files. The community advisory committee decided its final recommendations to the steering committee on Feb. 7, 2011.

July 19, 2010

June 21, 2010

May 17, 2010

A meeting with the Johns Landing area members was also held May 17 to present the findings of the economic analysis on the potential effect on redevelopment of streetcar extension on Macadam Avenue from Carolina to Nevada street.Download the analysis report

Nov. 16, 2009

Oct. 22, 2009

The Lake Oswego to Portland trail project grew out of the Lake Oswego to Portland Transit and Trail Study. The transit and project were divided for further development.

This project has the opportunity to provide numerous connections to trail systems and the existing bicycle/pedestrian network in Portland and Lake Oswego.

The trail’s north end links to the existing regional Willamette Greenway Trail, with connections to downtown Portland and Tom McCall Waterfront Park. Within the South Waterfront District, the aerial tram provides a direct connection to the Oregon Health and Science University, the largest employer in Portland. Future connections include a new Willamette River Transit Bridge, a transit/bicycle/pedestrian bridge that connects to Oregon Museum of Science and Industry; and the Gibbs Street Bridge, which will provide access across Interstate 5 to the South Portland neighborhood. In Johns Landing, Willamette Park includes connections to the Southwest Portland trails system.

In the southern section of the corridor, the trail would link to downtown Lake Oswego and Foothills Park, a riverfront park completed in 2005. Tryon Creek State Park is located on Terwilliger Boulevard just north of downtown. Completing a trail connection on the Willamette River just north of George Rogers Park will extend the corridor south to Marylhurst University and as far as West Linn and Oregon City.

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